Kodi’s Joinery Companion
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Introductory knowledge

Tools, timber and joints

Six short lessons on the tools, materials and joints you’ll hear about in the workshop. Each one ends with scenario questions and explanations.

Use these lessons alongside supervised work and college training. Ask your tutor or supervisor before trying a new practical task.

Lesson 1 of 6

Measuring, marking and hand tools

Accurate joinery starts with a good mark. Learn what the common bench tools are for, so you can recognise them and talk about them with your tutor. You learn how to use them properly through supervised practice.

Measuring and marking

Measure from a clean, square reference edge or end, and mark lightly but clearly. Measure twice before you cut.

Tape measure
Longer lengths, such as boards and openings. Usually read in millimetres.
Steel rule
Short, precise measurements at the bench.
Try square
Marks lines at 90° to an edge and checks that an end or corner is square.
Combination square
Square, 45° and short depth checks in one tool.
Sliding bevel
Copies and marks an angle that is not 90°.
Marking gauge
Scribes a line parallel to an edge, for example a joint’s thickness.
Marking knife and pencil
A knife gives a fine, crisp line for joints; a sharp pencil suits rougher cuts and setting out.

Cutting, shaping and fixing

Each tool has a job. Using the wrong tool, a blunt tool or a damaged tool is a common cause of poor work and injuries.

Hand saws
Panel saws for general cuts; a tenon saw (stiffened back) for accurate joint cuts at the bench.
Chisels and mallet
Bevel-edge and firmer chisels pare and chop joints. Strike wooden-handled chisels with a mallet, not a hammer.
Bench plane
Smooths and trues surfaces and edges.
Claw hammer and nail punch
Drive and set nails. Check the head is tight before use.
Screwdrivers and bits
Match the bit to the screw head so it does not slip or chew the screw.

Good habits

Hold the work securely in a vice or with clamps so both hands stay clear of the cutting edge. Keep edges sharp and guarded when not in use. Look over a tool before you use it, and report damage rather than working around it.

A try square held against a straight reference edge marks a line at 90°. A marking gauge runs along the edge to scribe a parallel line.

Key points

  • Work from a reference edge and check it is straight and square first.
  • Try square for 90°, sliding bevel for other angles, marking gauge for parallel lines.
  • Secure the work, keep tools sharp, and report damaged tools.
References for this lesson

Scenario questions

Read the situation, pick the best answer and check it. You can change your answer and try again.

Q1Which tool is the right one to check this?

Kodi has cut the end off a length of softwood and wants to know if the cut is at 90° to the edge.

Choose an answer first.
Q2Which tool marks a line a fixed distance in from an edge along the length?

A drawing shows a groove that runs 9 mm in from the face edge along the full length of a rail.

Choose an answer first.
Q3What should Kodi do?

Kodi picks up a claw hammer and notices the head wobbles slightly on the handle.

Choose an answer first.
References

Technical and safety points in this module were checked against these sources on 9 October 2026. Standards are listed so you recognise their names; your specification and the product’s data sheet tell you what applies to a job.